Louth Street Environmental Assessment and Detailed Transportation Assessement
All Niagara Region projects

About the Project

Niagara Region is undertaking a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and detailed transportation assessment of Louth Street (Regional Road 72) and a potential new roadway / railway grade separation in the City of St. Catharines.

Morrison Hershfield has been retained to undertake this study on behalf of Niagara Region.

This project is split into two components:

1. Louth Street Environmental Assessment - Benfield Drive to St. Paul Street West
2. West St. Catharines Grade Separation Environmental Assessment (Phases 1 and 2)

The section of Louth Street between Benfield Road and St. Paul Street West is need of rehabilitation and improvements before the upcoming GO Rail service expansion to the St. Catharines GO Station. The planned introduction of all-day train service will drive additional travel demand on the corridor, including trips made by vehicles (cars and buses) and by active transportation modes (walking and cycling).

The environmental assessment will identify and evaluate a range of alternative solutions for the corridor, using a Complete Streets approach to balance the various needs of the corridor. Alternative solutions will consider:

• Active transportation improvements
• Geometric and intersection improvements
• Future development plans and access management
• Urban design and road user safety
• Stormwater management and drainage
• Utilities and underground municipal infrastructure

Niagara Region's Transportation Master Plan (2017) also recognized a potential need for a new roadway/railway grade separation in west St. Catharines, with Louth Street being one of the candidate corridors. This study will incorporate Phase 1 (define the need or opportunity) and Phase 2 (evaluate alternative planning solutions) of the West St. Catharines Grade Separation Environmental Assessment to determine whether a new roadway / railway grade separation is still needed, and if so to identify the preferred corridor for grade separation. This evaluation will consider several factors, including:

• Travel demand and network connectivity
• Emergency service access to the St. Catharines General Hospital
• Active transportation and vehicle access to the St. Catharines GO Station
• Environmental and cultural/heritage impacts and mitigation
• Estimated cost

Project Timeline